But the most evil thing that Raleigh did was to buy up the better competition like BSA, first whore the name out in their own country, and then subject it to further groveling in India. I think you could still buy a BSA in India today.
Joe Bender-Zanoni
Great Notch, NJ
> The thing about the British bikes, and when I say that I'm thinking
> mostly Raleigh, is that you could get clones of bikes from five
> countries just from Raleigh --
>
> Want an Italian bike? Raleigh Pro, Team Pro.
> Want a Peugeot PX-10? Raleigh RRA.
> Want a Holland Bike? Grand Prix, Super Course (Gazelle)
> Want a Legnano Citybike? Raleigh Super Tourer
> Want a French Bike? Raleigh Competition
> Want a British Bike? Raleigh International
> Raleigh Gran Sport
>
> both are classic grand touring bikes,
> what today would be called Audax or
> Randonneur bikes.
>
> All but the Pro & Team Pro had an eclectic mix of parts from all over
> the world - France, Spain, Italy, Holland, Switzerland, Japan,
> Britain.
>
> What other countries had the equivalent of "Hetchins" or "Carlton
> International" with such overblown lugwork? I'm not saying that
> overblown lugwork is something to be proud of, but diversity of
> offerings is what makes life interesting ...
>
> I think that, in Italy, Campagnolo and Cinelli were actually too
> dominant, and so most of the Italian bikes mostly had parts from these
> two makers, and nothing else. After a while you get bored with Campy,
> and want to ride Stronglight, TA, GB, Brooks, Philippe, Simplex,
> Suntour, Weinmann, Mavic, AVA, etc. etc. etc.
>
> - Don Gillies
> San Diego, CA